#How Erin Andrews is adapting to new NFL reality in COVID-19 world

When the New Orleans Saints face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Erin Andrews will have a unique front-row seat for Tom Brady’s NFC South debut, given reporters are barred from the field this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re still going to be at the game, we’re still going to be close to the field, we’re going to be in the front row, and I’m going to try my darndest to adapt,” Andrews told The Post on Wednesday, the same day the second edition of her women’s NFL clothing line, WEAR by Erin Andrews, dropped on Fanatics and NFLShop.com.

“Obviously we’re not going to be able to run up to the coach at halftime or pregame or grab the player postgame… It’s kind of going to be we’re going to learn on the fly and I think all of us are kind of doing that, and we have to be able to adjust,” the Fox Sports sideline reporter continued.

Andrews, 42, who is entering her seventh season on Fox’s lead NFL broadcasting team, added she believes both teams and the media are on the same page in trying to adapt to a COVID-19 reality.

“I’m thankful because I have really good relationships with the teams and the players and the coaches. I think they understand we’re in the same boat as they are in trying to figure this whole thing out,” she said.

Although the game day experience will be drastically different this year, Andrews knows life — especially in 2020 — is all about adapting.

“As I’m learning with football and I’m learning doing sports apparel, you’ve got to make adjustments, as we all do in our life right now,” Andrews said.

With new pieces from WEAR still expected to roll out, Andrews — also celebrating the launch of her brand’s NCAA and NBA collections —  is “excited” to give fans something to cheer for this fall, even if from the comforts of home.

“We’re just excited that even sports is giving it a go because we want our fans to be able to dress for their games or cheer for their teams even though they can’t be at the stadium,” she continued.

Beyond giving fans a way to showcase their team spirit on game days, Andrews is grateful to be part of the NFL’s return, knowing what it means to those tuning in.

“I’ve had so many doctors visits this week cause this is essentially my going back to school week, I’ve got to get all the doctors visits before I go back to work. And I was telling a couple of my doctors that I saw, ‘Oh, you have the real job,’ you know, I sit there and I talk sports and worry if Tom Brady’s been sacked or so forth, and I’m like, ‘You have the real job.’ And they’re like, ‘No, you have the job of making us not care about what’s going on in the world for a good three to four hours.’ So yeah, you finally feel like you’re giving back, you’re giving people an escape and that’s exciting,” Andrews said.

“Little things about my job won’t be the same, I’m not going to be on the field, I’ve got to adjust. Does it really matter? We’re putting the NFL on this weekend. We get to see how Tom Brady does with his new team. We get to be in New Orleans, who are such a passionate fanbase whether they’re in or out of the Superdome, so it’s going to be fun,” she continued.